Athletic edge
When the fashion forecast for summer includes showing off sinewy limbs and fab abs in sporty pieces, make sure you’re in shape to wear them well. YStyle gathered some of the most beautiful fitness experts in town to share their workout secrets. Take a cue from the spring-summer runways and infuse your workout basics with sartorial flair — layer a vest on for the gym, try some edgy separates for yoga. Then sashay like a beach diva post-workout in a silk robe over brightly-colored active wear. The countdown to your sexiest summer body starts now.
The Workout: Anti-Gravity Yoga
The promise: Get in shape and realign your body while suspended in a silk hammock while stretching and working core muscles. Anti-Gravity Yoga is a patented technique developed by New York-based aerial choreographer and gymnastics specialist Christopher Harrison, combining yoga poses with acrobatics, calisthenics and Pilates, without the strain required to achieve the same movements and positions on the ground. Classes on the Anti-Gravity hammock include low-impact cardio, strength and flexibility training, balance and agility exercises. Its unique trademarked sequences of inversions help with spinal decompression while putting zero compression on the joints. It’s also therapeutic, alleviating back pain and mild depression.
Monica Elaezar-Manzano
Yoga teacher
Age: 29
Workout: Vinyasa yoga, yin yoga and Anti-Gravity yoga
Benefits: Removes toxins from the body, stimulates digestion, regulates metabolism and calms the nerves.
Routine: Aside from teaching two to three yoga classes per day, I try to squeeze in a class for myself. I either attend my co-teacher’s classes or do a home DVD workout.
Body part worked: All over... arms, legs, buttocks, core, even the brain!
Favorite move: Virabradrasana (warrior pose), Sirsasana (headstand) and my ultimate favorite, Savasana (corpse pose)
Armor: Nike, Adidas, Athleta
Latest acquisitions: Anti-Gravity yoga hammock at our Beyond Yoga studio. It is absolutely fabulous. Zero compression inversions are so therapeutic for the body!
Lusting after: A trip to Chiang Mai or Laos
Diet: Anything except pork, beef and chicken. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies. Stay away from MSG, no microwave, and eat fresh and local produce as much as you can. Introduce green smoothies into your diet.
Monica’s tips
•Use stairs instead of elevator.
•Drink lots of water or rehydrate with fresh buko juice first when hungry.
•Have fruit for breakfast instead of a heavy meal.
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Margo Lao
Anti-Gravity yoga, ashtanga, vinyasa and yin yoga teacher
Age: 39
Benefits: It keeps me happy.
Body part worked: Mind, body and soul
Favorite move: Surya namascara (sun salutation)
Armor: Lululemon, Easy Yoga, Zobha and Hard Tail
Latest acquisition: TRX suspension
Lusting after: My own Anti-Gravity yoga hammock
Celeb guru: Manuel Ferreira and Christopher Harrison
Diet: Pesco vegetarian.
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Beryl Ong
Businesswoman and Anti-Gravity yoga teacher
Age: 37
Workout: Ashtanga yoga
Benefits: Increases strength and flexibility.
Routine: One and a half to two hours of ashtanga yoga primary and secondary series early in the morning before going to the office. I try to focus mainly on proper alignment to prevent any injuries.
Body parts worked: The entire body particularly spine, heart and shoulder opening.
Favorite move: Kapotasana (deep backbend)
Workout outfits: Lululemon. This is my favorite! I am a LuluAddict.
Lusting after: Lululemon Athletica currant define jacket in size 2.
Inspiration: Anne Nuotio
Diet: Gong Cha milk alisan tea (30 percent sugar level) every day. It’s green oolong tea so it’s very calming and very healthy.
Beyond Yoga is Anti-Gravity yoga’s exclusive Philippine partner, located at 3rd floor, Terazzo bldg, Tomas Morato corner Scout Madriñan St., QC. Learn more about Anti-Gravity yoga at www.igobeyondyoga.com or call 0917-5BEYOND (523-9663).
Beryl’s tips:
•Inversions are very good “uppers” for the day. If I am feeling tired and stressed, I turn my world upside down and let the blood rush back down to my head to completely energize my brain and my mood.
•Backbends are great for heart opening. Let go of any inhibitions and just open your heart to endless possibilities.
•In every asana, remember to lengthen the spine first before bending or twisting. This will help you to enjoy the full benefits of each asana.
•Anti–Gravity yoga is such a mood upper as inversions are the key to a healthier, happier and younger outlook in life. So open your heart, open your mind and trust in yourself. Everything is possible. You can make it happen.
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The Workout: Gym and TRX
The Promise: Lose weight, get fit for sport, build cardio health, and strengthen muscles in a motivating, fun environment using equipment and exercises.
Jigs Mayuga
Makeup artist
Age: 33
Workout: Free weights, running, body jam dance class, TRX at Fitness First
Goal: To stay strong and fit throughout my 30s onwards, for as long as I can.
On Jigs: Metallic vest, P2,698, available at Carbon, Greenbelt 3 Been doing it since: I’ve been lifting weights since I was 19.
Routine: I warm up for 10 minutes by walking on a treadmill. I either work out on my own, or with my trainer with weights, or do TRX. Then I do my abs and stretch for another 10 minutes. I dedicate an entire hour for either cardio or strength training. I never train for over an hour. Otherwise I get bored. I really try to squeeze in a workout every day no matter how busy I am. It’s been part of my daily routine since I was in college. It also helps that I have a partner who shares the same principles when it comes to fitness.
Body part worked: I split my workouts so by the end of the week I will have worked all my major muscle groups.
Favorite move: Dumbbell pullovers, ball crunches and side plank.
Armor: I usually wear sleeveless tops and gym shorts from Nike, Adidas and New Balance.
Latest acquisition: More gym clothes. I have a lot.
Lusting over: My own TRX set to bring on my next US trip.
Playlist: A lot of R&B and pop. Not a big House fan. I like singing while I work out. Really. I’m kind of into Jessie J’s Domino now. If I like a song, it’s usually on repeat on my iPod.
Inspirations: My partner George Defiesta, Chinggay Andrada and my trainer Don Guttierez.
Diet: I usually eat five to six small but healthy meals throughout the day which consists of a fist-size portion of carbs, a palm-size portion of protein, plus veggies. I’m reading The Men’s Health Diet Book now to change things up a bit.
Jigs’ tips:
•Indulge once a week. I love burgers and I always have one every weekend but I avoid eating red meat during the week.
•Variety in my workout, so I don’t get bored, plus it confuses the muscles so I can avoid plateaus in my routine.
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The Workout: CrossFit
The Promise: Get fitter, stronger, faster and leaner — in less than 30 minutes — through a combination of high-intensity and constantly varied exercises. Their mission is never having to repeat a workout. Exercises range from gymnastics, Olympic weight lifting, track and field, kettlebell training and other sports.
Lala Nolan Agregado
Store operations manager, Kiehl’s
Age: 28
Benefits: An overall fitness program that develops cardio, speed, power, strength and flexibility. Results can be seen almost after a month. By doing Crossfit, one gets leaner and burns excess flab.
Been doing it since: I was one of the pioneer members of Crossfit when they first started their free workouts at Ultra way back in 2010.
On Lala: Pure silk robe by Noel Crisostomo, P9,000, for orders, call 899-7378 or 0917-8001622; Onzi bandeau top, P1450 and Onzi side-tie short, P1,950, available at Certified Calm, Shangri-La Plaza Routine: I work, do Crossfit and surf. There is no routine at Crossfit and that is also the beauty of it. Sometimes we’ll be doing weights combined with cardio, sometimes running with gymnastics, or sometimes kettlebells and rowing. Basically at Crossfit, we never repeat a workout because they come up with a combination of exercises taken from the disciplines such as track and field, rowing, weightlifting, kettlebell training, plyometrics, and gymnastics.
Body part worked: Every time I enter a Crossfit workout I feel that my whole body from top to bottom, except the toes, has been worked.
Favorite move: Burpees! Keeps your heartrate at “tugs tugs tugs.”
Workout outfits: Thriv (bamboo cotton sports apparel) and Lululemon.
Lusting over: Thriv’s latest 2012 spring collection and a Givenchy Nightingale!
Playlist: Brit-Euro tracks. Currently on the loop is Snow Patrol’s Called Out In The Dark
Inspiration: Brooke Burke is my original girl crush since high school. I’d love to have her flat tummy one day!
Diet: I eat a lot of veggies and limit my carbo only to lunch.
CrossFitMNL is located at Magnitude Realty Estate bldg, 186 E. Rodriguez Avenue, QC and at Philippine Army gymnasium, Lawton Ave. cor Bayani Road, Taguig. Learn more at www.crossfitmnl.com. For inquiries, call 0917-5692399.
Lala’s tips:
•Make time. If you want results, you have to log in as much time as you can. Like they say, you only reap what you sow.
•I drink at least three liters of water a day.
•Lastly, when you see a bag of chips, simply look away.
